Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week

At Avison Young, we want to attract the most talented people and help them build a successful career in property.

It may sound like common sense, but no two people are the same, and different people learn in different ways. Once we started thinking about this, we realised the importance of offering apprenticeships, which combine on the job learning with part time study. Whilst some school leavers learn more effectively by studying full time, others prefer to fast-track their career through an apprenticeship programme.

We have a duty to develop the next generation of leaders, and our apprenticeship programme is key to shaping the future of the property industry. We’ve come a long way over the last few years, and we’re incredibly proud to be recognised by The Job Crowd as one of the top 50 companies for apprentices to work for.

We wanted to know why our apprentices love what they do with us, so we asked them to share a few of their experiences. We are so proud to celebrate the achievements of Adelle, Max and Ebony, not just during National Apprenticeship Week, but every week of the year.

1. What attracted you to an apprenticeship with Avison Young?

Adelle - I wanted to work for an employer who looks after its employees. This was evidenced to me by witnessing the loyalty employees have to the business, some working at the company for over 40 years.

Max - I was attracted to Avison Young’s apprenticeship scheme because of the vast support structure available within the business for those enrolling onto the APC process. Also, having the opportunity to utilise the experience and expertise of your colleagues to supplement your own learning is a great help for being able to develop your own career path.

2. What is the best experience you’ve had at Avison Young so far?

Ebony - The best experience unquestionably has to be the merger of GVA and Avison Young! It is great to be a part of something new and directly experience the transition rather than hearing it from others.

Max - Pinpointing my best experience so far isn’t an easy task due to having some great experiences during my time at Avison Young. The one experience which does jump out is when I had the opportunity to work within the team which acquired 20,000 sq ft of office space for the General Dental Council in Birmingham City Centre.

3. What do you love about your job?

Adelle - No two days are the same and I love that my work is challenging and each week feels like a learning experience.

Ebony - Everyone would agree that variation is the best part of this job. I could be sitting at my desk one day and reading through leases and the next day I could be on-site inspections. Also, my colleagues in my department are very understanding and patient and I learn different things from everyone – from how they tackle on a new task and the steps they take towards achieving it.

4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

Ebony - 5 years from now, I would love to have achieved what I have been truly working for – getting my degree, passing my APC and becoming a chartered surveyor. Furthermore, I would hope that I have become independent in my role and have learnt so much more about the business.

Max - In 5 years’ time I see myself being fully qualified and specialising within a particular business line, having experienced multiple different roles within Surveying throughout my 5 years previous at Avison Young.

Adele - I see myself being a successful charted surveyor within Avison Young working my way to be in a managerial position.

5. What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship?

Ebony - My advice would be to do what I did. Try your best to get work experience at the company that you really want to work for. This will give you an idea of what to expect and you can see for yourself whether the environment matches your expectations. This will definitely be a bonus as your experiences will help you answer questions at the interview stage and even impress your future colleagues who may be keen on hiring you directly.

Adelle - You have nothing to lose and everything to gain when you choose an apprenticeship so if the opportunity presents itself take it!